I don't mind the "one copy is all we need" and the slip "we'll duplicate them on our own" but how do you react when someone asks you if you mind if they duplicate copies on their own? .....then realizing they're talking to the person who is making the original. It's happened here more than once or twice or ten times.

At that point, I don't care if they want to do that. It's like photographers releasing the Hi Res files to clients once all is said and done. They've already bought the package and included DVD's so I've got the money that I wanted. I personally don't charge or make much on selling extra copies so it's not something that we worry about. Just remind them that the copy won't be printed and they won't have a nice case for it like the ones that they could order from you. Of course this raises the point that then someone else isn't seeing the work the way it was meant to be seen with a nice case and print as that is part of the whole package....but again, it's not a big enough deal that I personally worry about it. Doesn't happen that often.

If you're doing a proper print on the DVD you deliver so it looks professional, the difference between that and a sharpie should be pretty obvious... can you do a "which would you prefer?"... So too with a nice professional case.

I'd just ask them how much time and effort it will cost them to make those copies and then see how many they want/need and make them a good deal on them... doesn't much matter to me to burn/print 1 or 20 once I've done the final master and the artwork... If they are really broke, I often have a couple test disks I could mark "demo/test" and don't want laying around anyway...

It's not a huge additional expense to make however many copies they might need, and if you make them think about the time and effort to make PROPER duplicates (not to mention how easy it is to make coasters - just having a burner doesn't guarantee compatibility with media and so on...), they'd have to be pretty cheap to say no (or you're overpricing your additional copies)...

they'd have to be pretty cheap to say no (or you're overpricing your additional copies)...

Not overpricing my copies....certainly not after giving away 800 DVDs in the promo arena. Just curious what you do when they approach you for one copy only. Merely wanted to hear your response. That's all......thank you

I don't mind the "one copy is all we need" and the slip "we'll duplicate them on our own" but how do you react when someone asks you if you mind if they duplicate copies on their own? .....then realizing they're talking to the person who is making the original. It's happened here more than once or twice or ten times.

My DVD's are encyrpted in away that they can't be copied.
You can burn the Menu page but the links will be dead.

I usually fill them in on that information PRIOR to them asking. I then tell them that additional copies cost "X" IF they are ordered the day we sign the contract. If they order more copes AFTER the fact (once they realize they can't copy them) they cost TWICE as much to order.

I'm just starting but I can't see including less than 2 copies of the final product upon delivery. Beyond that, they can make all the copies they want. I'd never count on making money from them buying copies from me anyway, I'd include all of my profit in the original price. So if asked, I'd smile and say "of course you can make copies". You're not going to stop them anyway, and at least they had the courtesy to ask.

Shirley...can't you guys play nice when someone like me is trying to ask a simple question?

We are being nice, and stop calling me Shirley......(sorry, I couldn't resist)

Seriously though, I hope I didn't sound mean and I don't think anyone else meant to be either.
I think people are trying to be honest here, there's just some different views regarding the idea of a client copying their finished DVD's. I personally don't have a problem with it, I'm not going to make any money off additional copies, they're not taking food out my children's mouths by doing it, and I want to keep the client happy. It goes back to the saying "jobs beget other jobs". I want the word of mouth to go around that I'm easy to work with and produce a good product. I ran a ceramic tile business for years solely on word of mouth, and I was rarely without work.

We have an option for brides to order more copies but I'm up front with anyone who asks about additional copies that we can't do anything to stop them from making their own. Like others have said already, the $200 extra I make a year in DVD sales just isn't worth my time to burn, print, cut and ship the things.

We have an option for brides to order more copies but I'm up front with anyone who asks about additional copies that we can't do anything to stop them from making their own. Like others have said already, the $200 extra I make a year in DVD sales just isn't worth my time to burn, print, cut and ship the things.

I'll second that! When a couple ask us about copying their wedding video, I'll say go for it! I may lost that $15 of business but more DVD they copy, that's mean more people will see our work.

I've got similar approach. The couple gets 3 copies anyway. Sometimes they want more if they'll be shipping it to their relatives, so they want nice, printed set. But then they ask me if they can make more copies to give away to friends, etc. I always agree. But I also inform them that I'll be keeping dvd images on hard drive for another month or so, in case they want more printed copies from me. I had a couple once who asked for aprox. 10 sets of DVD's :-) I spent whole weekend burning dvd's as if those were newest Hollywood releases :-)

I was giving this some thought last year, because it does cause some brand recognition issues if they are copying the video without any of the labeling. So I made a short little stinger to go at the end of the video with my website and logo. It's professional-looking (I think), doesn't detract from the video, and that way if someone wants/needs to track me down they should still be able to do that. I've always been very flexible if they want to make their own copies - they've already paid for the production to be done, so there's no copyright issues like there would be with photography.